October 26, 2015

How to boost your self esteem in five easy steps

Ever had one of those weeks where you are like, bwahhhh why, earth?! Or more like, bwahhh why, humans? Well I have been working on the secret recipe for boosting you up when you feel low, and with this completely flawless formula, you too can feel like a man or woman of steel.

Just five easy steps, y'all. Anyone can do five things, right?

Unless those five things include making it all the way to the bottom of laundry baskets or listening to the Whip/Nae Nae song without doing the moves. Some things are impossible, and we must learn to accept that (<<<also, that is Step 6 for when you master the first five).

Warning: most of these items are run related (refer to the blog name at the top of this page).

Step 1: Go for a run with friends.

They can't be just any friends. They have to be friends who don't care if you talk about peeing your pants during a run, or don't care if you step up your game and actually pee your pants during a run. And that is one of the first tests you can give a runner friend. Just start peeing your pants (on a run or not) and watch their reaction. If you don't see a flinch or glimmer of disgust in their eyes, keep them for eternity!

So to clarify: go for a run with friends who don't give a flip. And who will do things like pose for a handstand YOLO picture in the middle of an early morning long run. First, you get the benefits of inversions (namaste, y'all), and second, you learn that you are making correct friend choices.

From the race site: this race was created entirely to support those who are battling brain cancer. All proceeds will directly benefit the University of Alabama Birmingham Division of Neuro Oncology for research of adult and pediatric brain cancer as well as patient support services.

A lot of the runners and supporters have a personal connection to this cause, which makes race day more than just another set of splits and personal records. Shout out to my friend (who inspired me to even start this post!) who was running in memory of her son. Again, this is not just a race; it's a community.

And my race day was made perfect by one of our trainees letting me pace her to her goal time. Or way faster than her goal time! She was shooting for sub-30 after a previous 36-minute 5K, and she came in at 26:58. I knew we were going out too fast for the 30-minute goal, but I also knew that she had it in her spirit to fly fast that day. And she sure did!

Running is so often (or always) motivated by life. And when we see sadness and hurt and disappointment, we gain determination and grit and toughness to take to battle (aka race day).

Step 3: Celebrate a holiday full force.

Pick the closest holiday and smash it with dress-ups and food and whimsical-I-don't-care-ness and parties. Attend all the parties.

Our neighbor (Scooby Doo), my son holding the most gorgeous one year old on the planet, and Shaggy.

Wanted to save that toilet paper in a plastic sack and put it in the kids' bathroom to use.
But didn't. Willpower.

Some minds are darker than others.

Professionally trained scarers are worth it.

The face of the shortest minion. Not impressed.

Step 4: Put a sweater on it.

It's the human equivalent of "put a bird on it." Go out and buy yourself the coolest, most covering-est sweater you can find. Then when you go out feeling like a loser because you're still in your pajamas or have a stain on your shirt, PUT A SWEATER ON IT!

No one needs to know that underneath the most amazing sweater that you own is the same shirt you wore yesterday. That has not been washed. And neither have you. Whatever.

Note: this only works in cold weather, therefore fall and winter are officially the best seasons.

Step 5: Hang out with kids.

Kids have a way of not taking for granted the little (and big) things. Like how you walked past a one year old, and they thought, whoa look how that adult is just walking so effortlessly, and I'm over here bumbling all over the place. Because that's how one year olds think.

I recently got invited to Grand Pals Day for one of the kids in my Sunday school class and Cub Scout troop. Yes, Grand Pals Day is usually for grandparents, but if yours are not nearby, you get to invite another adult (and then some people ask if you are that 9 year old's grandma, and you kind of want to say "yes" just to weird them out).

Ideally for Step 5, you get invited to an event like Grand Pals because as part of this event, the kids are asked to make a poster for their pal. And that poster says all the good things they know about their pal. Who doesn't want a poster of all their good things?!

Sister Boher=me (in church talk).

If you don't have a Grand Pals Day near you, I recommend hiring a child to do this.

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What would you add to the list? How do you give yourself a boost when you're feeling low?

And tell us about your favorite sweater. Because I know you have one! Mine is pictured above, from the clearance rack at Mountain High Outfitters. Yay for 70% off.

What is your must-do Halloween celebratory event? Because if we haven't tried it yet, we want to! This is the first year my older kids have done haunted houses, and I'm impressed with their ability to not be scared of the dark when we get home.

You are an amazing running coach, and an answer to prayer for me! You helped me train for 8 weeks for Baker Donelson's team for the Blazer Bolt. But when a family tragedy occurred just days before the race, I could hardly focus on the race, and just wanted to no-show. But I did go, thinking, "I'll just go through the motions." That's when you offered to run beside me. I was amazed that you would do that, rather than running for your own personal victory. You stayed beside me, every step of that 5K, encouraging me not to quit and to run my race. I had prayed before the race that I would be able to run my fastest pace ever. And because you were there for me, that's just what happened! 26:58 may not be that fast to some, but it was a miracle for me, and you helped make it happen. You're the best!!--Yvonne R.